| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
08/03/2012 - 08/06/2012 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Power Reactor | Event Number: 47992 | Facility: FORT CALHOUN
Region: 4 State: NE
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: (1) CE
NRC Notified By: JOHN FICKLE
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 06/04/2012
Notification Time: 21:59 [ET]
Event Date: 06/04/2012
Event Time: 15:14 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/03/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B) - UNANALYZED CONDITION
| Person (Organization):
HEATHER GEPFORD (R4DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown | Event Text REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM IN A DEGRADED CONDITION DUE TO AN INSTRUMENT RACK SEISMIC DESIGN ISSUE
"During a review of plant installed instrumentation racks inside containment, two instrument racks were identified that were over the analyzed weight for the seismic analysis. The instruments on these racks are used for reactor coolant pressure transmitters that are part of the Reactor Coolant System (RCS) pressure boundary, as they are connected via instrument lines to the RCS with no remote closure capabilities. A failure of these racks during a seismic event due to the excessive weight could result in an unisolable leak from the RCS within containment based on engineering judgment. This results in the RCS principal safety boundary being in a degraded nonconforming condition as the Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR) specified Class 1 requirement is not being met for the current seismic design. Further engineering analysis is in progress to address the weight issue for these racks and mounting requirements. The plant is shutdown and in Mode 5 with the reactor vessel head removed, so RCS is not intact and not required to be for current plant conditions. This report is being made in accordance with 10CFR72(b)(3)(ii)(A) for a degraded condition."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE ON 8/3/12 AT 1708 EDT FROM JULIE BISSEN TO DONG PARK * * *
"On June 4, 2012, at 2059, Fort Calhoun Station made an 8-hour non-emergency notification for a degraded condition. Subsequent internal review has determined that the initial reporting criterion for degraded condition, 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A), was incorrect. The instrument racks were identified as being over the analyzed weight for the seismic analysis. This is an unanalyzed condition, not a degraded condition. The report made on June 4, 2012 should have been made under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(B), unanalyzed condition."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R4DO (Werner). |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 48135 | Rep Org: MA RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM
Licensee: WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY
Region: 1
City: WALTHAM State: MA
County:
License #: none
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOSH DAEHLER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 07/26/2012
Notification Time: 13:20 [ET]
Event Date: 07/24/2012
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/26/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (R1DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING OR ABANDONED AND FOUND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
"During conversion of the former Waltham Watch Co. property to offices and apartments the property owner discovered sub-floor areas to be contaminated with radium-226 and americium-241.
"The consultant submitted that the property had functioned as a watch factory; that during World War II the site was used to support the war effort; and that radium was used in self-luminous paints for watches, nuclear panels, aircraft switches, clocks, and instrument dials starting in the early 1900s and was still used as late as the 1960s. The americium was likely not part of the dial painting process and may have been associated with a former tenant.
"The consultant reported on radioactive waste manifest dated July 24, 2012 that a total of 890 microCuries (approximately 727 microCuries of americium-241 and approximately 163 microCuries of radium-226) was removed from the property. These materials are in addition to 10 microCuries of radium-226 that was removed from the property on May 23, 2012. In aggregate, the activities of materials meet the reporting requirements of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1). Radioactive materials discovered and removed were mostly found under layers of flooring in areas of original wood subflooring materials in apartments not yet inhabited. The americium-241 was confined to two areas whereas the radium-226 was discovered in many areas. Final status surveys performed by the consultant indicate that no radioactivity is present above natural background levels in post-remediation areas.
"The Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] continues to investigate this incident and has performed on-site inspection of the specifically licensed person providing decontamination and decommissioning services to the property owner of the site."
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 48137 | Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Region: 1
City: PHILADELPHIA State: PA
County:
License #: PA-0131
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JOHN S. CHIPPO
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 07/26/2012
Notification Time: 15:24 [ET]
Event Date: 07/26/2012
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/26/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
MEL GRAY (R1DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MEDICAL EVENT INVOLVING AN UNDERDOSE WITH YTTRIUM-90 SPHERES
"Event Type: A medical event (ME) involving the administration of yttrium-90 SIR-Spheres which is reportable under 10 CFR 35.3045(a)(1)(i).
"Notifications: On July 25, 2012, the Department's Southeast Regional Office received notification via telephone about this event.
"Event Description: The patient received 77% of the intended dose.
"Cause of the Event: Currently under investigation and unknown at this time.
"Actions: No harm to the patient is expected. The Department [PA Bureau of Radiation Protection] plans to do a reactive inspection. Updates will be provided upon receipt of information."
A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient. |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 48138 | Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: APEX GEOSCIENCES INC.
Region: 4
City: TYLER State: TX
County:
License #: 04929
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: CHRIS MOORE
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER | Notification Date: 07/26/2012
Notification Time: 15:43 [ET]
Event Date: 07/26/2012
Event Time: 14:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/27/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES DRAKE (R4DO)
FSME EVENT RESOURCE (EMAI)
MEXICO (FAX)
DARYL JOHNSON (ILTA)
|
| This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
"At 1400 on July 26, 2012, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that a Humboldt Scientific Inc. (HSI) Model 5001 moisture density gauge was missing and suspected as stolen by a company employee. The employee, a company truck, 2012 white Toyota Tacoma, and the moisture density gauge have been missing all day. The worker failed to report to a job site this morning and his wife reported that she had no contact with him yesterday. Local law enforcement was notified. The gauge contained 10 millicuries of cesium-137 and 40 millicuries of americium-241.
"The State of Texas event number for this event is I-8972."
* * * UPDATE AT 1241 EDT ON 7/27/12 FROM CHRIS MOORE TO PETE SNYDER * * *
"At 0830 on July 27, 2012, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that the Humboldt Scientific Model 5001 Moisture Density gauge reported stolen on July 26, 2012, had been recovered. The licensee stated that the missing worker called the company and reported that the truck with gauge was parked at his residence. The licensee recovered the gauge. The licensee stated that the gauge was still locked and stowed properly in the truck. The licensee stated that an inspection and radiation survey of the moisture density gauge was found to be normal. The employee was fired."
Notified the R4DO(Drake), ILTAB(Johnson), FSME Events Resource(Email), and Mexico.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 48156 | Facility: FITZPATRICK
Region: 1 State: NY
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4
NRC Notified By: STEVE DEFILLIPPO
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 08/03/2012
Notification Time: 14:03 [ET]
Event Date: 08/03/2012
Event Time: 12:05 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/03/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
PAUL KROHN (R1DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY
"At 1205 EDT on August 3, 2012, the primary telephone service provider for the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAF) experienced a failure of their communications circuit. This failure has resulted in a major loss of communications equipment at the JAF site. The JAF dedicated Emergency Notification System (ENS), Health Physics Network (HPN), and Radiological Emergency Communications System (RECS) phone and all other plant phones served by this provider are not functioning as a result of this failure. Alternate dedicated cellular, satellite, and land-based phone lines serviced by other providers remain available to perform communications with off-site facilities.
"This communication failure impacts the ability to readily receive and transmit information between the NRC and JAF. The loss of both the ENS and the HPN constitutes a major loss of communications capability and meets NRC 8 hour reporting criterion 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The communications provider has been contacted to enact repairs to the affected communications circuit. There is currently no estimated time of restoration."
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE ON 8/3/12 AT 1601 EDT FROM STEVE DEFILLIPPO TO DONG PARK * * *
"The communication lines reported as lost in the original notification have been restored to service and are functional. The NRC Resident Inspector had been notified."
Notified R1DO (Krohn). |
| Part 21 | Event Number: 48157 | Rep Org: FLOWSERVE
Licensee: FLOWSERVE
Region: 1
City: RALEIGH State: NC
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT BARRY
HQ OPS Officer: CHARLES TEAL | Notification Date: 08/03/2012
Notification Time: 14:34 [ET]
Event Date: 08/03/2012
Event Time: [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/03/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
21.21(d)(3)(i) - DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE
| Person (Organization):
PAUL KROHN (R1DO)
MIKE ERNSTES (R2DO)
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
PART 21 GROUP (EMAI)
| Event Text PART 21 - DEFECTIVE VALVE SEAL CAP
The following was provided via fax:
"Background:
"On July 17, 2012, Duke Power - McGuire NPP notified Flowserve Corporation that they had attempted to install a Seal Cap supplied by Flowserve on a Kerotest 1-1500 Y-Type Globe Valve. They found that the Seal Cap could not be installed on the valve due to interference with the Valve Stem.
"Discussion:
"The Seal Cap is used to contain leakage past the Valve Diaphragm. The Seal Cap fits over the Valve Stem after Handle removal and is screwed onto the Yoke until it contacts the top of the Body. It is then seal welded to the Body to create a leak tight cap. At this point the Seal Cap is considered pressure retaining.
"Inspection of the Seal Cap revealed an inside flat bottom in lieu of the conical bottom shown on the drawing. The conical drill point allows clearance for the valve stem when the Seal Cap is installed on the valve. Review of a layout shows the Seal Cap with a Flat bottom cannot be completely installed whether the valve is open or closed.
"Conclusion:
"The Seal Cap with a flat bottom cannot be properly installed on the Kerotest Series R9900 size 1/2 to 2 Valves for which it was designed. The Valve Stem will prevent complete installation and the ability to seal weld the Seal Cap to the Body. The Seal Caps supplied would not be available at the Nuclear Power Plant site for an urgent repair if required. The following Nuclear Power Plant Utilities were provide these Seal Caps without the conical shaped area.
TVA - Purchase Order# 00020077-00050 and 00020077-00018
First Energy - Purchase Order# 45108999, and 45254808
Alabama Power - Purchase Order# QP040387, QP040872 and QP060575
Duke Power - Purchase Order # NM18494 001, NM25245, 00108212 and 00124677.
"Based on the above, the Nuclear Utilities need to be notified concerning this deviation so that an evaluation may be performed to determine if this constitutes a defect that could create a substantial safety hazard." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 48158 | Facility: FERMI
Region: 3 State: MI
Unit: [2] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: PATRICK FALLON
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 08/03/2012
Notification Time: 15:27 [ET]
Event Date: 08/03/2012
Event Time: 14:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/03/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 2 | N | Y | 68 | Power Operation | 68 | Power Operation | Event Text CONFIRMED POSITIVE ON A FITNESS FOR DUTY TEST
A non-licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a for cause fitness-for-duty test. The employee's unescorted access has been terminated. Contact the Headquarters Operations Officer for additional details.
The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector. |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 48159 | Facility: HATCH
Region: 2 State: GA
Unit: [1] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4
NRC Notified By: STANLEY STONE
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK | Notification Date: 08/04/2012
Notification Time: 12:53 [ET]
Event Date: 08/04/2012
Event Time: 10:35 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 08/04/2012 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(xi) - OFFSITE NOTIFICATION
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
| Person (Organization):
MIKE ERNSTES (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | | 2 | N | Y | 63 | Power Operation | 63 | Power Operation | Event Text OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO LOSS OF TONE ALERT RADIO
"On Saturday August 4, 2012, at 1035 EDT the National Weather Service (NWS) Jacksonville Florida Office notified Plant Hatch Nuclear Plant [HNP] of a loss of the NWS Tone Alert Weather Radio System. Site emergency procedures define a loss of Tone Alert Radio for greater than 15 minutes as a significant loss of Emergency Communications.
"The NWS Tone Alert Weather Radio is utilized as the Prompt Notification System (PNS) for HNP. The loss impacts the ability to notify the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) Population for the HNP. This failure meets NRC 8-hour reporting criteria 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
"The State of Georgia Department of Homeland Security/Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) 24-hour warning point and the '911' dispatch centers of Appling, Jeff Davis, Tattnall and Toombs counties were notified so compensatory measures would be available should the PNS be needed. This consists of utilizing route alerting and the 'Code Red' system, which is a reverse 911 feature available from the county 911 center. This notification meets the 4-hour notification reporting criteria 50.72(b)(2)(xi)."
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE ON 8/4/12 AT 2212 EST FROM FRANK GORLEY TO DONG PARK * * *
The NWS Tone Alert Weather Radio System has been restored to service as of 2130 EDT.
The licensee will notify the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified R2DO (Ernstes). | |